Let's go swimming together in all sorts of places. We'll also look at swimming in history, art, literature, film, TV in fact any way swimming can be painted, photographed, filmed, written or mused about.

Friday, 6 April 2007

The Newcastle Ocean Baths are in the historical Newcastle East area. They were commenced in 1910, with the pavilion being commenced in 1922. The baths and pavilion were remodelled in 1928. A conservation order was placed on them in the 1980s, and revoked in 1992. However, conservation work is now underway. For the history of the baths, see here.

Below: The "Canoe pool" next to the southern end of the Ocean Baths was completed in 1939, as an extension to the "Young Mariner's Pool (1937). The bottom of this new pool featured a map of the world in pigmented cement, so the pool was considered both 'educational and recreational'. This geographical pool originally intended for 'tinies' had such appeal for bigger children that it became overcrowded. More here.

Thursday, 5 April 2007

These are te oldest baths in NSW. About 1820, a natural pool was enlarged by convicts or soldiers, on the orders of Major James Thomas Morisset, Commandant of the Newcastle settlement from 1819 to 1822. Its original size is estimated as 15 feet long, seven feet wide and six feet deep.Initially reserved for military use, these baths apparently served for a time as Morisset's private bathing place and were for many years known as the Commandant's Bath. For its history, see here.